Chapter 19

Nadi

My leg bounced quickly with anticipation as I waited for Kelz to return to the car. I wanted to text him to see what was happening, but I didn’t. If his phone wasn’t on silent, I didn’t want to give his location away just in case something happened. However, five minutes turned into ten, and he still wasn’t back. He should have sent me a message telling me things were good by then. Then unexpectedly, I saw movement coming from inside the restaurant. I didn’t know what it was, but something told me to find out.

The very moment I opened the car door was the same time I heard a gunshot. I quickly ducked, but then I realized it had come from inside the restaurant. Okay, I really needed to get in there. Whatever was happening wasn’t good. I pulled my gun from its holster and checked my surroundings. I didn’t see anyone suspicious as I used the night sky to shield myself as I ran to the restaurant front. Ducking, I peered into the window and saw something that stunned me.

“Italians?” I said to myself.

But that wasn’t all. It was Banks. He was standing with the dead body of a Black man at his feet. There was a smoking gun still in his hand, and I gasped when I saw who it was pointed at—Kelz. Two big Italians were restraining him as Banks put the gun directly in front of his chest. I stood up to jump into action, but I moved too slowly.

Boom, boom, boom!

I felt that pieces of my soul left me with each bullet that went into Kelz. He jerked violently three times, and I opened my lips to scream in torment. However, before any sound came out, a hand covered my mouth and yanked me away from the window. The last thing I saw was Kelz’s body falling to the ground. I was dragged back across the street, although I fought to get free. But whoever had me had a tight grip. I wasn’t released until someone threw me into a car. Once the passenger door shut, my captor hopped in the driver seat, and I aimed my pistol at him. He was a young Black man around my age. He wore braids and was dressed in all black like me. I had never seen him before.

“You can kill me, or we can get the hell out of here, Nadi,” he said, starting the car.

“I’ll put a bullet in your skull if you even try to move this car.”

“We don’t have time for this shit, Nadi.”

“How the fuck do you know my name? I don’t know you.”

“You don’t, but I knew your father, Nat Porter. We used to work security for Zeus back in the day. He was like a mentor to me.”

“See, now I know you’re lying. My daddy didn’t work for no damn Zeus,” I barked. “You have five seconds to tell me who you really are.”

“I just told you,” he said, looking me in the eyes. I saw panic there, but I also saw sincerity. “There’s a lot that you and your sister don’t know. For example, you didn’t know Nat worked for Zeus, and you also didn’t know that they were cousins.”

“Cousins?”

“I’ll explain on the way, but get that fucking gun out of my face,” he shouted. We glared at each other until I slowly lowered the gun. “Thank you.”

I kept my finger on the trigger just in case I needed to use my gun after all. He sped off from in front of the restaurant, glancing feverishly into the rearview mirror. When we were far enough away, everything started to hit me like a ton of bricks. Banks. The Italians. The restaurant not really being opened. It was an elaborate setup. One I was sure I wasn’t supposed to survive. I bit back my tears. There wasn’t time to cry. I needed more information. Like, who was the motherfucka driving me right then? Where had he come from, and how had he shown up at that exact moment? I held my gun up to his head again.

“This again? Didn’t I just save your life?” he asked in an exasperated tone.

“I don’t know. Did you? Who are you?”

“The name’s Trey. I’m a Virgo, and I like long walks on the beach. Preferably with a bottle of Hennessy in my hands.”

“You think this shit is funny?” I asked, stopping myself from pistol-whipping him.

“Do you see me laughing? I don’t know what the fuck that was back there. All I know is that Zeus has been having me closely monitor Zayle.”

“Zayle?”

“The other dead motherfucka back there. He’s Zeus’s right-hand man. Or was. Zeus hadn’t trusted him for a long time, but he wanted proof before he knocked off Zayle. I got all the proof tonight that he was trying to work with the Italians. But whoever that killer with mommy issues was back there, he took Zayle off the map before Zeus could. Who is he?”

I took in Trey’s words and let them land in my mind. If he had been following the Zayle person, it explained why he had been there that night. I let my gun fall again and leaned into my seat.

“We used to work together for a while.”

“Doing what?”

“I don’t know you enough to tell you my business. Just know he’s a snake. I always felt that about him, but Kelz . . .” I started choking up again. I cleared my throat before I continued. “They were like brothers. And Banks killed him.”

“I knew they looked familiar. Zeus wanted Kelz to be bigger than big in these streets. Said he had more than the makings of a king, that he was one already. Damn, he ain’t gon’ be happy to hear he died. And I ain’t gon’ be happy because I’m the one who has to go clean up the mess.”

“Don’t call him that,” I snapped. “Kelz has never and will never be a mess.”

“My bad,” Trey said and glanced over at me. I didn’t even try to hide my grief. “He was your man, huh?”

“Yes. And we were going to leave all this shit behind us.”

“He must have really loved you to leave it all behind,” he said absentmindedly as he drove.

His words echoed throughout my head. He was right. Kelz did love me, and I knew he did. Still, I was trying to make him prove something I already knew. He was going to give up everything for me—for us. Now, he was gone, and I was left to pick up the pieces. It wasn’t like the last time. This time, he was dead.

“Can you take me home?” I could barely speak the words.

“You sure it’s safe?”

“Banks doesn’t know where I live. I’ll be fine. I just need to be with my sister.” Trey still looked skeptical about taking me home. I didn’t understand why he cared so much. “Just take me home.”

“Okay, okay. Shit. I’ll take you home. Just don’t point that gun at me again.”

I gave him directions to my place. The nightlife sights of LA were a blow to me. I was numb to everything. I didn’t want to think about what happened, but it seemed to be the only thing I could think of. I didn’t even realize we’d reached my condominium until the car stopped. I tucked my weapon away again and opened the door. Before I was out, I looked back at Trey.

“Thank you,” I told him.

“No doubt. I’ll be in touch.”

“Why?”

“You might need some protecting,” he said like it was nothing. “Plus, I should have reached out a long time ago. You know, after your pops died.”

I nodded, and when I shut the door, he pulled off. I didn’t even know if Nori was home, but I hoped she was. When I walked in, the doorman spoke to me, but I said nothing back. I couldn’t find the energy. Somehow, I made it up the elevator and to my door. Before I could put the key in the lock, the door flung open, and Nori stood there with her hands on her hips. She was wearing a pair of pink silk Prada pajamas and a bonnet on her head. The stern look on her face quickly faded when she saw me in distress.

“Nadi, wha—are you okay, sister?”

“It’s Kelz,” I started, finally allowing the ocean to build up in my eyes. “He’s . . . He’s dead. Nori, Kelz is dead.”

Saying the words out loud took the last of my energy. I fell into her arms, and she caught me. We both fell to the ground, and she held me tight as I bawled into her shoulder. I didn’t know how long I cried, but it seemed forever. My sobs filled the home with deep sadness and sorrow. By the time I was done, I was sure my eyes were puffy and bloodshot.

“Nadi, what happened? Are you hurt?” Nori asked, gently pushing me away slightly by the shoulders.

“No, not physically hurt. It was all a setup. Banks, he killed Kelz.”

“What?” Nori’s hand went to her chest. “I thought they were like brothers.”

“Yeah, me too,” I sniffled. “I’m sure he would have killed me too if I hadn’t gotten out of there.”

“I’m glad you did. Something told me to come home instead of staying at Mommy’s. Oh my God. I didn’t like Kelz very much, but I am so sorry, Nadi. I can’t even begin to imagine your pain right now.”

“I think—” I paused to wipe the remaining wetness from my face. “I think we should move, Nori, away from California. You graduate soon. I just want to start over somewhere new.”

“Okay,” she agreed with a nod. “You, Mommy, and me.”

We hugged again tightly, and I wished that simple gesture could heal me. But it was only enough to keep the tears from falling again. I didn’t want to move yet. Then suddenly, the house phone began ringing in the kitchen. Nobody but our mother knew that number, and she would call it back-to-back if we didn’t answer our phones. Nori helped me to my feet, walking me to a recliner before going to answer it.

“Nori, don’t tell her about this, okay?” I said, resting my head on my hand.

My eyes closed, and I tried mentally to go somewhere far from there. It didn’t work. Nothing would change the fact that the love of my life was gone.

“Hey, Mommy. I’m here with Na—Hello? Who is this?”

I opened my eyes and sat up when I heard the concern in her voice. I mouthed, “Who is it?” She didn’t answer me, but I swore I saw her grow pale in seconds as she listened. I thought that maybe Banks had found me and was threatening us. I would kill him.

“Nori, who is it?” I asked, standing up.

“Oh my God. Okay. Okay, we’ll be right there.” She was in distress, and her hand trembled as she hung up. Finally, she turned to face me with streams of water coming from her eyes. “Nadi. Nadi, it’s Mommy.”

“What . . . What about Mommy?” I rushed over to her and grabbed her hands. “Nori, what happened to her?”

“There was a terrible accident. She fell down the stairs in her house. She’s in the hospital. We have to go now!”